Mikel Arteta is a huge fan of Viktor Gyokeres

 but refuses to even say the Sporting 

Lisbon sensation’s name.

The Swedish striker has been in scintillating 

form since arriving in Portugal from Coventry

 just under 18 months ago. He has scored 67 

goals in just 69 appearances in all 

competitions for Sporting.

And that form has earned admiring glances 

from elsewhere. Manchester United have 

been linked and are expected to target him 

after swooping for his former manager 

Ruben Amorim.

Premier League rivals Manchester City and 

Arsenal are also among those reportedly 

interested. And while the Gunners will be 

aiming to tempt him to the Emirates Stadium

 in the future, their task is to keep the striker 

quiet during this week’s Champions League 

showdown.

Arteta has praised Gyokeres but refused to 

conduct a detailed analysis of his abilities, 

potentially in an attempt to keep his cards 

close to his chest. Speaking in his pre-match

press conference, Arteta said: “I would like to 

talk about the team, about the coaches and 

how phenomenal they have been.

“The run they are in is incredible. I 

understand the question but they have a lot 

of individual qualities. And yes in the specific

 position they have great players.”

Away from Arsenal, there have already been

 a number of hints dropped regarding a 

potential move to United in the future. Ahead

 of his own switch to Old Trafford, Amorim 

confirmed a swoop for his former star was 

not on the immediate agenda.

He said: “If I start joking about this Gyokeres 

situation I'll get in trouble. This is my city, this

 is my country, so I'll respect it. Viktor has to 

stay until the end of the season and then his 

life will probably go somewhere else.”

Gyokeres has also spoken out on his future. 

He confirmed that he had not spoken to 

Amorim regarding a potential reunion in 

Manchester.

Speaking to Fotboll Skanalen, the striker 

said: “He probably has some strikers there 

already, so we'll see. 'No, he hasn't [asked 

me to join him]. It's fun but nothing I attach 

any importance to because it's talk and 

nothing concrete.”

Gyokeres is not the only current Sporting star 

that United have been linked with since 

Amorim’s move. The Red Devils are also 

eyeing wonderkid Geovany Quenda, while 

Ousmane Diomande is also reportedly on 

their shortlist.